Reply to MLS Academy League Announcement Coming Soon

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It is new and exciting that two clubs have been given the opportunity to play in this top league, SYC and Alexandria instead of the same dug clubs from the old DA system that never changed.[/quote]
Those two are only playing U13 and U14 (in the new MLS league) this year. And those teams are playing a pretty restricted schedule to limit travel. So this is a good year for them to wade into a higher level of competition.

Do we know if this has helped them attract any new top players for this year? Over time, they are probably going to have to get better to compete in that league, but the league might help them get better players! (Will be tougher sell this year, when they aren't actually playing any MLS teams in the "MLS league".)[/quote]

MLS expects the truly talented kids to leave at U15 to go to DCU. The whole point of this league is to funnel homegrown talent to the MLS teams. It’s easier. (and cheaper) for the MLS teams to let local clubs filter out the strong players so they don’t have to go looking on their own. Will better players show up to these clubs, maybe, but those players will only be passing through. I wouldn’t get your hopes up about playing other MLS teams, the program is being designed to have MLS teams play MLS teams. The local clubs are just the bottom (Younger ages) of the pyramid. [/quote]

DCU has 18 kids at each age.  I highly doubt a roster of 18 will accommodate the entire DMV.  Especially given that the starting 11 will get the most play time given the substitution rules.  Over time the other clubs will get better and better.  Not everyone with a talented kid will want to go to DC or Loudoun for practice.  DCU has name recognition but DC traffic means families will want to stay close to home while getting the same exposure to college scouts.[/quote]

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